Ocala News

A fully engulfed mobile home fire in the Ocala Estates area early Saturday morning left five people dead.

Published: Friday, November 20, 2009 at 6:30 a.m. Last Modified: Thursday, November 19, 2009 at 11:14 p.m. A welcome-home celebration honoring 170 soldiers returning from Iraq has been slated for Monday afternoon at the Ocala/Marion County Veterans Park.

An elderly Ocala man and his wife were carjacked and kidnapped just before 2 p.m. Thursday, according to the Ocala Police Department.

Published: Saturday, November 14, 2009 at 6:30 a.m. Last Modified: Saturday, November 14, 2009 at 12:42 a.m. Congressman Alan Grayson visited Ocala on Friday to meet with local leaders on economic issues and to greet a few well-wishers at a small evening fundraiser.

State officials are facing a second lawsuit filed in as many weeks accusing them of shortchanging public schools in violation of a state constitutional provision requiring a "high quality" education for Florida's children.

Five children were checked out a hospital after a car rear-ended their school bus in Ocala.

Published: Tuesday, November 17, 2009 at 6:30 a.m. Last Modified: Tuesday, November 17, 2009 at 12:57 a.m. Army reservists with the Ocala-based 351st Military Police Company have left Iraq and are on their long way home back to the United States.

Published: Monday, November 16, 2009 at 2:16 p.m. Last Modified: Monday, November 16, 2009 at 2:17 p.m. A Williston man was arrested Friday in connection with a $1,500 wire theft from a power company after law enforcement was tipped off by a Marion County recycler.

Published: Monday, November 16, 2009 at 6:30 a.m. Last Modified: Monday, November 16, 2009 at 1:08 a.m. After struggling for years with his mother's Alzheimer's disease, an Ocala man has developed a cell phone application to help caregivers reach their charges from a computer keyboard.

Published: Saturday, November 14, 2009 at 6:30 a.m. Last Modified: Saturday, November 14, 2009 at 1:43 a.m. Polls open at 7 a.m. on Tuesday for city of Ocala voters, who will cast their ballots for Mike Finn or Suzy Heinbockel in the runoff election for the Ocala City Council District 1 at-large seat representing the entire city.

Published: Saturday, November 14, 2009 at 7:37 p.m. Last Modified: Saturday, November 14, 2009 at 7:38 p.m. Antonio 'Black' Lyons, the man officials believe might be connected to the shooting death of a 44-year-old Ocala man in October 2008, was transported Saturday night from Georgia to the Marion County Jail, officials said.

Published: Saturday, November 14, 2009 at 6:01 a.m. Last Modified: Thursday, November 12, 2009 at 4:50 p.m. On a recent Friday night, dozens of party planners scurried about the new Gateway Bank, arranging conch shells, crafting high-end catering, organizing a pricey silent auction and stocking three bars - two on grand porches with grand views.

A suspicious package was delivered to the City of Ocalaa s Utilities Customer Service office inside the City Hall building Thursday morning.

Tonight, the paperwork is complete and the numbers are in, for arrests from a major multi-county sex crimes task force.

Published: Monday, November 9, 2009 at 4:24 p.m. Last Modified: Monday, November 9, 2009 at 4:29 p.m. Reserved bleacher seats are now available for rental for the annual Ocala Christmas Parade set for Dec.

Ocala police say an officer shot a suspect in the leg during an early morning burglary investigation.

The Defense Department reports two soldiers from Fort Lewis, Wash., were killed Thursday when their Stryker vehicle went over a buried explosive in Afghanistan.

An Ocala man told police he was robbed near a Denny's restaurant, but video evidence later reportedly showed the man sold drugs to a friend, according to an Ocala police report.

Tyler John McPartland was charged with four counts of first-degree attempted murder of a law enforcement officer after a shoot out with Marion County deputies early Sunday morning at the International Villas apartment complex in Ocala.

Published: Saturday, November 7, 2009 at 6:30 a.m. Last Modified: Saturday, November 7, 2009 at 1:59 a.m. The city of Ocala has begun cutting its downtown and airport ties with Lee Farkas, owner and former chairman of the bankrupt Taylor, Bean & Whitaker wholesale mortgage company.